NFU v Grantham Town (Evo Prem 18-19)

Evo-stik Northern Premier League
Premier Division

North Ferriby United v Grantham Town
Tuesday 11 September
Kick-off 7.45pm

Ferriby return to Evostik Premier Division action on Tuesday evening when they entertain Grantham Town at The Chadwick Stadium. It gives Chris Bolder’s side an early opportunity to put aside Saturday’s defeat at Dunston in the Emirates FA Cup.

Bolder will be looking for a massive positive response from his players after Saturday. Grantham have started well and currently lie sixth in the table. They have won three, drawn two and lost one. Scoring eight goals and conceding six in the process. They won their Emirates FA Cup tie at Daventry on Saturday with a goal deep in added time.

On an historical note, Ferriby have yet to lose to Grantham in any competition. That is something that everybody connected with The Villagers would like to see maintained on Tuesday.

Bolder is well aware of the commitment of Ferriby’s fans,
“We owe our supporters a good performance. They were fantastic on Saturday and stood behind us and they are desperate for the lads to do well and all they ever want is to watch the lads giving 100 per cent.”

Despite recent results, there is an appreciation amongst Ferriby’s supporters for what Bolder and assistant manager Paul Robson are trying to achieve. The team can, and does, play an attractive style. However, as a young and developing team, the players are not as street-wise as many of their opponents. That will take time to come but it will.

Hopefully, the fans will turn out in decent numbers for Tuesday’s game. The managers. Players and the club need that support.

Skipper James Piercy was honest in his comments after Saturday’s game,
“We just weren’t good enough today and I have to apologise to the fans for that performances, especially to those who travelled with us. We have to become more consistent because we have shown that we can put good performances together.

“We were all very disappointed as we all knew the importance of the game. We just failed to put in a performance that we are capable of, but we will go back to the drawing board and all work together to put it right. We need to start to do that again on Tuesday.

“Grantham have started well and have had some good results against some strong opponents, but we now need to focus more on ourselves and our game rather than being too concerned with others’ results because we’ve showed when we are at it we can compete with the best in this league.”

The reaction of the players spoke volumes as they got back on the coach after the game with each player apologising to the travelling fans who were on the coach. They recognised that they could and should have done better and they will feel the hurt of the defeat as much, if not more, than anyone.

Bolder was rather deflated after the game but was very forthright about the performance,

“It’s not been good day at the office at all. Our quality was awful today. There’s no question that when the ball went to anybody it bounced off or miscontrolled or were laboured on the ball. We’ve just had a long conversation in the dressing room with regard to certain things. We’re becoming a very up-and-down side at the moment and we can produce performances like South Shields and Scarborough but that’s all in the past. Its evidence that the lads can do it.

“It’s the most disappointed I’ve seen our group of players.

“Myself and Robbo have to think if we got it right tactically and personnel-wise today. The players do what we ask of them in training so they are listening and learning but it goes wrong in certain games.

“The players have put their hands up in the dressing but we’ve said that it’s about time we stopped reiterating the same thing because if we don’t learn and put it right it just defeats the whole of object of what we’re trying to achieve.”

Ferriby lack consistency from one game to another and it is certainly frustrating for Chris Bolder, Paul Robson, the players and fans.

The defeat was a big blow to the club as a whole because the prize money for winning would have made a big difference to the club’s finances. It is now even more important that the fans continue to turn up to watch games at The Chadwick Stadium.

Looking towards Tuesday night, Bolder commented ,
“I’ll go away and think about today’s game, discuss it with Robbo, and think about how we approach Grantham on Tuesday.

“We’ve got an opportunity to look again on Tuesday night and we will go again. We need to show more urgency because that was lacking on Saturday and we will have to press Grantham much more.

“They’ve had a good start in the league but most of their games have been close affairs. WE need to make sure it stays that way on Tuesday.”

Eddie Rogerson remains a doubt with a groin strain, otherwise Bolder should have a full squad to choose from.